Royals Game 1 starter Edinson Volquez throws a pitch in the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Mets Tuesday night.(Getty Images)

Kansas City, Mo. — Jubilation on the field turned into quiet reflection in the Kansas City Royals’ clubhouse early Wednesday morning.

Shortly after the Royals beat the New York Mets, 5-4, in the 14th inning of Game 1 of the World Series, the players became aware that Daniel Volquez, the father of starting pitcher Edinson Volquez, had died of heart trouble earlier on Tuesday in the Dominican Republic.

Although the Royals management knew, the pitcher didn’t get word until after he had thrown six solid innings.

According to the New York Times, about an hour before the first pitch, Royals Manager Ned Yost went to Chris Young, the scheduled Game 4 starting pitcher, and told him he might have to start Game 1 instead. According to the Times, Yost told Young in confidence that Volquez’s father had died. He told Young not to say anything to Volquez, at the family’s request.

Kansas City — Troy Tulowitzki almost made it back to the World Series.

He emerged from an injury and a postseason slump to deliver three big hits for the Blue Jays in the playoffs, but the Blue Jays lost the ALCS in six games to the Royals, who open the World Series here on Tuesday night.

Former Rockies star shortstop Troy Tulowtzki told reporters in Toronto that the trade to the Blue Jays was tough on him and his family.(Getty Images)

“Blue Jays’ Troy Tulowitzki never quite felt at home in Toronto this season after shocking trade left him feeling betrayed”

It’s an interesting read by John Lott. And it’s clear that Tulowitzki still harbors a lot of resentment about how the trade went down.

“You know what, and this is just being completely honest, it’s tough for me now to trust anybody in this game after what happened,” Tulo told a small group of reporters. “I’m sure these guys (in the Toronto front office) are great here. But at the same time, with what happened, it’s really tough.”

Though Tulo spent his offseasons in Las Vegas, he said he felt established in Colorado. Being uprooted, he said, was difficult for him, and also for his wife, Danyll, and their 21-month-old son, Taz.

“It’s been a tough year for me, to be honest,” Tulowitzki said. “Just with everything that went down with the trade. It threw me for a loop. It threw my family for a loop.

“I’m excited to go to spring training and get a fresh start with the team and be with these guys for a whole year and not have to worry about trade talks. The last three or four years I had to worry about it and talk about it every single day in Colorado. So, I’m looking forward to having a year where I don’t have to talk about it. It’s going to be great.”

Actually, that’s an exaggeration on Tulo’s part. He didn’t have to talk about being traded “every single day” for three or four years. And the truth is, Tulo brought some of that trade talk on himself.

Still, Tulo was always great to the Rockies beat writers and he’s a wonderful ballplayer. I hope he finds what he’s looking for with the Blue Jays.

Major League Baseball announced the umpire crew for this season’s Fall Classic between the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals.

Veteran umpire Jeff Kellogg was named the crew chief and is working his fifth World Series. He will be joined by four World Series first-timers — Hunter Wendelstedt, Jerry Meals, Jim Reynolds and Eric Cooper — as well as Ted Barrett and Jeff Nelson.

Wendelstedt is following in his father’s footsteps. He also wears number 21 to honor his father Harry who called five World Series.

MLB almost always tries to have one new umpire call the Series every season. This year, four guys got the call.

Meals will work home plate for Game 1 and then monitor all replays for the rest of the series. Nelson will man replays for Game 1 and then go to field. Brian O’Nora will also serve as a replay assistant this series, the first in which where expanded video replay is being used in the World Series.

The Las Vegas oddsmakers say it will take a mighty leap of faith for the Rockies to be a contender in 2014, even with a healthy Carlos Gonzalez in the outfield. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Rockies owner Dick Monfort is a big believer. The wiseguys in Vegas … not so much.

The Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook posted it’s odds for the 2014 season Monday and it lists the Rockies as 60-1 longshots to win the World Series. They are listed at 30-1 to win the National League pennant.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado National League West rival, is the favorite to win the World Series, at 5-1.

The Rockies are listed at 15-1 to win the NL West and are predicted to finish last in the division for the third straight season. The sports book has the Rockies winning 76 games, just two more than last season.

Colorado Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez dives for and misses a ball at Coors Field. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

BOSTON — Carlos Gonzalez knows defense. He’s so good he uses strategy in the outfield, conjuring images of former Rockies’ great Larry Walker. Walker did everything well defensively, but perhaps his best move was when he would trick runners from taking an extra base. Walker would pretend to camp under a fly ball with a runner at first base. Then at the last minute, he would turn as it ricocheted off the wall. Duped, the runner would only make it to second base.

Gonzalez does something similar, a tactic he revisited during Wednesday’s conference call following his third Rawlings Gold Glove honor.

Everyone knows CarGo has one of the league’s best arms. His erasing of the Cubs’ Carlos Pena in spring training a few years ago prompted CarGo to tell me, “Doesn’t he have HD-TV?”

DJ Lemahieu, right, and Nolan Arenado both delivered solid defensive seasons for the Rockies. Arenado is attempting to become the second rookie third baseman to win a Rawlings Gold Glove. (Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post).

ST. LOUIS — Anyone who watched Nolan Arenado this season has a story to tell about his defense.

That play on Marco Scutaro’s bunt in San Francisco. Throwing out San Diego’s Cameron Maybin with a barehand stab and flip. The ridiculous double play to home and first in Miami, Arenado’s personal favorite.

He’s a deserving Rawlings Gold Glove finalist, and would be in select company if he wins the honor on Tuesday night. Arenado, 22, is attempting to become the second rookie third baseman to win a gold glove, joining Boston’s Frank Malzone in 1957.

“Hopefully it happens,” Arenado said.

Only nine rookies of have won the gold glove, or roughly 3 percent of those those chosen. Troy Tulowitzki nearly joined the list in 2007, but was edged by the Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins. The full list provided by Rawlings:

Troy Tulowitzki is seeking to win his third Gold Glove, but admitted Friday that he’s not the favorite. He likes the chances of his teammates Nolan Arenado and Carlos Gonzalez. (Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post)

ST. LOUIS — For those who have even glanced at the major league playoffs, there’s an unmistakable truth: run prevention is paramount.

That starts with pitching. But defense is necessary to advance.

The Rockies have not reached the playoffs since 2009, but they continue to employ some of the game’s best fielders. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, left fielder Carlos Gonzalez and third baseman Nolan Arenado, whose season was a series of wows defensively, were named finalists Friday for the Rawlings Gold Glove awards.

The last time I covered a playoff game in St. Louis, this happened. David Freese won MVP honors, in large part, due to his breathtaking performance in the Game 6 win over the Texas Rangers. (Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post)

The first World Series I covered was 2001. It was interwoven with brilliance and emotion, coming just weeks after the terrorist acts in New York City. I have never been at a sporting event like Game 3. President Bush threw a strike in the ceremonial first pitch, and you could practically feel 70,000 fists pump in the air with patriotism. It was a healing moment.

I will head to St. Louis this weekend for the middle games of the World Series. Each series is unique. Outside of the Rockies’ play-in game in 2007, the best game I have ever covered was Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. The Cardinals were down to their last out. And then third baseman David Freese ties it with a triple on a ball that Nelson Cruz gator-armed after inexplicably not playing “no doubles” (or deep to prevent exactly what happened).

Moments later, Freese walked off the Rangers. The same Freese who grew up in St. Louis, and whose friends razzed him for weeks after the Cardinals traded Jim Edmonds to San Diego to acquire him.

Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton acknowledges the crowd in the second inning after announcing his retirement at the end of the season. (Rick Scuteri, The Associated Press)

PHOENIX — Todd Helton didn’t have any reservations about his retirement, a decision he first told The Denver Post on Saturday. He joked with teammates, ate a healthy breakfast — “I might get round when I stop playing, but I need to stay in shape enough to hunt,” he said — and addressed the media.

Todd Helton has no reason to be guarded at this point. With his career coming to a close, he freely expresses his opinion. An d when it comes to the use of expanded replay, he’s for it. Players want to see the call right. That’s what Roy Oswalt said. What Michael Cuddyer said. What every veteran I talked to in the Rockies’ clubhouse indicated on Friday.

The issue is the mechanics. Will it delay the flow of the game. Will somebody try to game the system with a frivolous challenge to warm up or stall a pitcher? Will it take too long? As long as the reviews are kept to the 1 minute, 15-second mark — or in that range — players are for it.

Well, OK, I participate in an NFL pick ’em pool, but that doesn’t really count. I know little about point spreads, odds, etc. I simply don’t pay a lot of attention to it.

But I figured I needed a reality check regarding the 2013 Rockies.

Not that I honestly think the Rockies have any chance to be a contender this season, but during the early days of spring training, it’s easy to be swayed by the sunshine, green grass and players’ unabashed optimism.

They don’t even have a manager yet, and already the Colorado Rockies are the second-longest longshots to win next year’s World Series.

Canada-based Bovada sports book released its 2013 World Series odds on Sunday, with the Detroit Tigers the early 6-1 favorites to win next season. The Yankees are 7-1, followed by the Giants at 10-1.

Only the woeful Houston Astros at 150-1 have longer odds than the Rockies at 75-1. But just think, if you skipped that martini lunch today and put that $10 toward the Rockies, you could be looking at a $750 payday next October.

SAN FRANCISCO — Baseball is built on superstitions, traditions. Teams look for any reason to explain success. Giants relievers Javy Lopez and Jeremy Affeldt have a fool-proof system, though it’s likely ending this fall.

Had Tim Lincecum been available last summer, perhaps the Rockies’ four-man rotation would have gained traction. Hard to beat bringing in a two-time Cy Young award winner in relief. This is a temporary gig for the right-hander, but Lincecum has salvaged a disappointing season by becoming a bullpen weapon in the playoffs. He has allowed one earned run and three hits, while striking out 14 in 10 2/3 innings. He retired all seven hitters he faced in Wednesday’s 8-3 victory over the Tigers.

After bringing piggyback — that was the Rockies’ slogan for during the summer — Lincecum talked about the Giants’ momentum after the win.

SAN FRANCISCO — Pablo Sandoval walked across the mound in near-empty AT&T Park Wednesday, making his way to the final TV interview of the night. The few remaining fans that security hadn’t kicked out yelled everything but marriage proposals in his direction.Read more…

SAN FRANCISCO — One of the most lasting images of the playoffs came Monday night when Marco Scutaro stood at second base with arms stretched out like a scarecrow, mouth open to the rain. It was a moment of joy and redemption. Scutaro wasn’t sure this would ever happen. He certainly didn’t believe he would reach the World Series with the Rockies by June. And he thought his journey was over in Cincinnati when Jay Bruce tried to push the Reds to the next round.

“I was praying my season wouldn’t end like last year. Not again,” Scutaro said of the Red Sox’s staggering collapse that kept them out of the postseason.

He enters tonight’s game as the hottest hitter on the planet. He earned NLCS MVP honors by going 14-for-28. In spring training, Scutaro talked about baseball’s unsympathetic nature. He could feel good at the plate and wear the collar.

“There’s some games I go home and wonder, ‘Where’s my swing?’ Sometimes I even Google it and the search comes up with no result,” he told me in spring training.

Scutaro, who’s in a good place now, talked hitting before tonight’s opener against the Tigers and Justin Verlander.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In case you had not seen it yet, Sports Illustrated is picking your fighting Rockies to finish, drum roll please … in fourth place in the NL West, but with a slightly better record than last year.

The Rockies were 73-89 in 2011. The prognosticators at SI pick them to finish 79-83 this season.

In the cover story, former teammate Lance Berman says: “Albert Pujols is the greatest hitter of all-time. When you look at what he’s been able to do in the modern game–with pitching, modern bullpens, worldwide competition–he’s put up numbers nobody else ever did. And he’s done it in a park (Busch Stadium) that is very tough on home runs. Believe me, I only hit nine there last year but 22 on the road. Gap to gap, you have to crush a ball to get it out.”

SCOTTSDALE — Using spring training to prepare for the regular season has taken on a new dimension today. Arizona is providing weather fitting for April in Denver — high 40s and spitting rain.

Today’s trip to Tucson was postponed and rescheduled for Thursday at Kino Park, formerly known as Tucson Electric Park. As of now, the Rockies’ game against the Mariners today in Peoria remains in place.

The Rockies are juggling their pitching a bit to compensate for the Tucson switch. Firmly in the mix for the fifth starter’s spot, Tyler Chatwood will start against the Mariners, rather than Josh Outman. Outman and Esmil Rogers are still likely to pitch today. It’s unclear what relievers will get work out of group that includes Carlos Torres, Josh Roenicke, Edgmer Escalona, Rob Scahill and Josh Sullivan.

As a concession to the weather, the Rockies are not using any of their veteran players. That means no Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez, Jason Giambi, Todd Helton, Ramon Hernandez or Casey Blake (neck), who was scheduled to play for the first time in a week.

Morning musings:
–Second baseman Marco Scutaro said he’s starting to get a little more comfortable offensively. He’s off to a slow start. “I would like to feel good right now, but I have to keep searching. Once you find it, it kind of clicks,” Scutaro said.

–Rockies’ bench coach Tom Runnells told me interesting story about Barry Larkin that has a Greeley connection. When Runnells played with the Reds, Greg Riddoch was helping run the minor league system. Riddoch, a former Padres manager and Greeley legend himself, wanted Runnells working with Larkin. The two were teammates with the Denver Zephyrs. Runnells caught up with Larkin on Friday when the Hall of Famer threw out the first pitch. “I remember when we did a team photo on the Zephyr train,” Runnells said.

–Pitcher Alex White has been working on his sinker and slider almost exclusively this spring. I asked because his changeup is a good pitch. He has such a good feel for it, he doesn’t throw much, even in side sessions. I thought it was a splitter. But it’s really not. “I couldn’t throw a splitter. And I couldn’t throw the circle change. So I modified it, so it’s a little of both,” White said.

Drawn by the chance to reunite with his former minor-league pitching coach, Aaron Cook confirmed Sunday night that he has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Red Sox pending a physical.

Cook will find a familar face in Boston with its new pitching coach Bob McClure. McClure worked extensively with Cook in the minor leagues and during Triple-A rehab assignments with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. The right-hander credits McClure for helping him develop his signature signature, one that helped him win a Rockies’ record 72 games. Cook went 72-68 with a 4.53 ERA for Colorado.

ST. Louis — Heartbreak is having the person in the checkout counter take the last Snickers. Or ski bindings snap two feet into your last run down the mountain.

What the Rangers experienced was far worse. They were within one strike of their first World Series title in 51 years — twice. Only to have it snatched from their paws. It was painful. Crowbar to the shins. Fist to the throat.

How can the Rangers possibly regroup after such a crippling loss? If there manager is a window into the psyche they should be fine. Washington entertained the media Friday, hardly looking the part of a shaken and stirred soul.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.